Saturday, June 21, 2014

Private Wealth, Public Squalor: America’s Dilemma | Common Dreams

Private Wealth, Public Squalor: America’s Dilemma | Common Dreams

"Profits are at record heights and wages near record lows as a portion of the economy. CEO pay soars to new heights. The wealthiest 1 percent pockets nearly all of the nation’s income growth, while typical household income continues to decline."

How Eating Broccoli Can Protect You from Air Pollution Dangers -- Study Reveals Surprising Results

www.alternet.org/environment/how-eating-broccoli-can-protect-you-air-pollution-dangers-study-reveals-surprising
"Daily consumption of broccoli can go a long way in protecting people from the harmful effects of air pollution, a study from Johns Hopkins University has found."

Credit Rating Industry Dodges Reforms, Despite Role in Financial Meltdown

Credit Rating Industry Dodges Reforms, Despite Role in Financial Meltdown

"Undeserved triple-A credit ratings were one of the major accelerators of the financial meltdown of 2007 and 2008. Wall Street firms created wildly complex securities based on junk subprime mortgages and sold them to pension funds, insurance companies and other Wall Street banks because they carried the golden seal — AAA."

Combat Veteran and Military Historian Tells Bill Moyers, "No Way" Do We Go Back into Iraq

www.alternet.org/world/combat-veteran-and-military-historian-tells-bill-moyers-no-way-do-we-go-back-iraq
"This week, Bill speaks with combat veteran and historian Andrew Bacevich about the events unfolding in Iraq and what they say about America’s role in the world in a two-part interview."

Rand Paul Blames Dick Cheney For Iraq Crisis

Rand Paul Blames Dick Cheney For Iraq Crisis

"Adding, “And what’s going on now — I don’t blame on President Obama,” he said."

Women’s voting power changes candidate’s mind

Massachusetts Passes The Highest State Minimum Wage In The Country

www.thinkprogress.org/economy/2014/06/19/3450807/massachusetts-minimum-wage-11/
"On Wednesday night, the Massachusetts House passed a bill that will raise the state’s minimum wage to $11 an hour by 2017. The Senate already passed that wage level, and after a procedural vote there it will head to Gov. Deval Patrick (D), who is expected to sign it into law."

New problems for Gov. Scott Walker

Focus on rebuilding America, not engaging overseas

Conservatives’ critical take on same-sex marriage

Former PA Health Employees: We Were Told Not To Talk About Fracking Illnesses

Former PA Health Employees: We Were Told Not To Talk About Fracking Illnesses

"Pennsylvania, land of ethical giants! Nice corrupt little relationship the Corbett administration has with the fracking industry, don't you think?"

Kevin McCarthy’s Rise to Majority Leader Is Great News For The Polluting Koch Brothers

www.politicususa.com/2014/06/21/kevin-mccarthys-rise-majority-leader-great-news-polluting-koch-brothers.html
"McCarthy will hardly take any steps to help low-wage workers or create jobs nationally when he adamantly opposes a major job creation project in his home state and congressional district, and there is good reason why. McCarthy is an adamant foe of California’s high speed rail (HSR) project like his cohorts in the House because, as a typical Republican, he is beholden to the oil industry and counts among his top ten campaign contributors Chevron and Occidental Petroleum. California’s oil and gas producers are already drawing up a list of favors the new Majority Leader owes them as recompense and it includes killing jobs for Californians."

Invest in clean energy in America

Utah Utility Cuts Deal For 20 Years Of Solar Power Because It’s The Cheapest Option

www.thinkprogress.org/climate/2014/06/20/3451429/utah-solar-purpa/
"Boston-based renewable energy company First Wind just finalized agreements to provide a Utah utility with 320 megawatts of solar capacity for the next two decades. And the circumstances of the contracts are yet another example of how falling solar prices are reshaping the market."

Friday, June 20, 2014

Judith Miller Wants The Media To Leave Poor Dick Cheney Alone

Judith Miller Wants The Media To Leave Poor Dick Cheney Alone

"Miller was a willing participant in selling the lies, not just some impartial observer. It would be "helpful" if any of the ones who lied us into invading Iraq were actually held accountable for their actions. It would be "helpful" if Faux "news" were taken off the air and no longer allowed to spread right wing propaganda and the opportunity to attempt to rehabilitate former Cheney stenographers like Judith Miller."

Pennsylvania Instructed Its Employees To Ignore Residents Sickened By Drilling

www.thinkprogress.org/climate/2014/06/20/3451311/pennsylvania-frack-gag-health/
"The Pennsylvania Department of Health’s hostility to examining the health effects of fracking is just the latest development in a series of policies and laws that make it easier to make money from fracking — at the expense of public health. For instance, a Pennsylvania law makes it illegal for doctors to tell their patients which fracking chemicals are poisoning them, to protect the secret blends they inject into the earth."

US civil rights legacy tested 50 years after ‘Freedom Summer’

‘Constitutional cop-out’ by Congress on Iraq

Scott Walker: The Karl Rove, 'Secret Email,' 'Criminal Scheme' Candidate | Common Dreams

Scott Walker: The Karl Rove, 'Secret Email,' 'Criminal Scheme' Candidate | Common Dreams

"Even worse for a governor who has already had to try an explain away highly´controversial emails from former aides, as well as the investigations, prosecutions and convictions of aides, appointees, allies and campaign donors, are the actual details of the documents that were ordered unsealed by Federal Appeals Judge Frank Easterbrook."

Liberal Group: Sheldon Adelson Illegally Gave $1M To Pro-Corbett PAC

Liberal Group: Sheldon Adelson Illegally Gave $1M To Pro-Corbett PAC

"an Adelson contribution of nearly $1 million ended up in Corbett's campaign account, in violation of the state gaming law's prohibition of casino owners giving political contributions in Pennsylvania."

Bradley Foundation Bankrolled Groups Pushing Back on Scott Walker John Doe Criminal Probe

Bradley Foundation Bankrolled Groups Pushing Back on Scott Walker John Doe Criminal Probe

"The Bradley Foundation ties to Walker and others under investigation run deep."

Scott Walker accused of ‘criminal scheme’

Bridgegate still haunting Chris Christie

You Might Be Able To Sign Up For Obamacare This Summer

www.thinkprogress.org/health/2014/06/19/3450831/obamacare-special-enrollment/
"Anyone who experiences a “life-changing event” — graduating from college and losing a student health plan, moving to a new home, getting married, having or adopting a baby, or turning 26 years old — may be eligible to enroll in a new marketplace plan even before the next enrollment period starts in the fall. They can take advantage of what’s called Special Enrollment."

Scott Walker under investigation

Food fight for GMO labeling

Thursday, June 19, 2014

Chris McDaniel's Shady Racist Friends Hosted Heritage Hater Brigitte Gabriel

Chris McDaniel's Shady Racist Friends Hosted Heritage Hater Brigitte Gabriel

"With the Mississippi runoff right around the corner, TeaBircher Chris McDaniel's racist associations are coming sharply into focus."

Scott Walker Is A Crook, Just Like You Always Thought | Common Dreams

Scott Walker Is A Crook, Just Like You Always Thought | Common Dreams

"With prosecutors reportedly likewise closing in on Chris Christie, it could be tough for the GOP to find any unindicted presidential candidates."

Governor Scott Walker Accused Of ‘Criminal Scheme’

www.thinkprogress.org/election/2014/06/19/3451197/scott-walker-illegal-coordination/
"Prosecutors allege Walker was part of a “criminal scheme” to circumvent state election laws."

Sources: Prosecutor Closing In On Chris Christie

Sources: Prosecutor Closing In On Chris Christie

"There's so much dirt there, and investigators have been patiently sifting. Looks like they have enough to start bringing indictments"

16 Wacky Ideas In The Texas Republican Party’s New Platform

www.thinkprogress.org/justice/2014/06/19/3450942/xx-wacky-ideas-in-the-texas-republican-partys-new-platform/
"Immigrants, gay people, children, minority voters, the environment, elderly Americans and, of course, President Obama, are the big losers in the Texas Republican Party’s 2014 platform. Meanwhile, rich taxpayers, conspiracy theorists and Wall Street make out like gangbusters."

Judge Strikes Down NC GOP's Effort To Silence Moral Monday Protesters

Judge Strikes Down NC GOP's Effort To Silence Moral Monday Protesters

"North Carolina Republicans must be shocked -- SHOCKED -- to discover that the First Amendment doesn't just apply to them!"

Prosecutors Allege Gov. Scott Walker At Heart Of 'Criminal Scheme'

Prosecutors Allege Gov. Scott Walker At Heart Of 'Criminal Scheme'

"Scott Walker is now implicated in an illegally coordinated fundraising effort or as prosecutors call it, a "criminal scheme"."

Leaked Doc Reveals Wall Street Plan for Global Financial Deregulation | Common Dreams

Leaked Doc Reveals Wall Street Plan for Global Financial Deregulation | Common Dreams

"Wikileaks published a previously tightly-held and secretive draft of a trade document on Thursday that, if enacted, would give the world's financial powers an even more dominant position to control the global economy by avoiding regulations and public acccountability."

5 Issues Where Right-Wingers Are Crazier and Meaner Than Ever

www.alternet.org/tea-party-and-right/5-issues-where-right-wingers-are-crazier-and-meaner-ever
"But once in awhile, having to be pulled forward with the tide of progress causes some conservatives to throw a fit and insist, instead, on regressing, often in shocking ways. Here are five issues where conservatives have, in recent months and years, taken a giant step backwards from where they had been before."

How Politicians Are Using Taxpayer Money To Fund Their Campaign To Sell Off America’s Public Lands

www.thinkprogress.org/climate/2014/06/18/3450397/politicians-taxpayer-money-seize-public-lands/
"In addition to using taxpayer funds to advance unconstitutional bills to seize federal lands, the ALC also relies on financial support from the mining industry and fossil fuel interest groups. Americans for Prosperity, for example — another group financed by the Koch brothers — is listed as a “Bronze Member” of ALC."

FLASHBACK: Remember When Paul Wolfowitz Said Not to Worry About Sectarian Violence in Iraq?

www.motherjones.com/politics/2014/06/watch-paul-wolfowitz-said-not-worry-about-sectarian-violence-iraq-bush
"The former Bush administration official is perhaps the worst person to give advice about the current crisis in Iraq—but that hasn't stopped him from speaking out."

Cheneys shock with lack of self-awareness

Dick Cheney seeks influence despite poor record

GOP Candidate Refers To Whites As ‘Traditional’ Voters, Wants to ‘Divide and Conquer’ the Poor

www.forwardprogressives.com/gop-candidate-refers-whites-traditional-voters/
"The cornerstone of the continued Republican success across the South over the last few decades has been the “Southern Strategy,” and his remarks show all the hallmarks of someone who uses that strategy to gin up the base every election. The problem for Thom Tillis and the rest of the GOP is that this blueprint cannot work forever with the shrinking of his “traditional population.” You see, while using the racial dogwhistles and xenophobia has worked for all this time to convince poor and working class whites that minorities were their enemy, it doesn’t work so well on the younger and more diverse voting population that is moving into North Carolina and other states across the South like Texas, Virginia, or Georgia."